Congrats to our latest shining star winner, Cathy Brown, who was nominated by Penne Ball of Lincolnton, GA. Here is what Penne wrote:

“My husband died about three years ago. I had stopped working during his final illness and did not go back to work immediately because I was emotionally unable and because running a busy household with kids, cats and a dog, and getting them through the initially intensely stressful period after their dad’s death took priority over finding a job. Finding a job and getting back into the workplace was a major life event for me. As a psychiatric nurse, I had worked in some really awful situations; and, frankly, the third party payers were not covering a lot of psych care, making the market tight. I applied to a company called Southern Health Partners, and a miracle happened. I joined a dedicated, loving work family who all came to work and “did the right thing” every day… The really weird thing is that we work in the Aiken County Jail, providing down-home health care to down-home folk… from strokes to pregnancy, from acute psychosis to drug seeking, to emotional seventeen year olds to eighty-somethings who don’t belong in the facility, but somehow are there.

If I could, I would nominate everyone of my co-workers… but the person who makes it all work, who sets a perfect example of coping, caring and doing, is our boss, Cathy Brown. Cathy treats everyone like family, giving straight talk or sympathy, as needed. Her clinical skills far exceed her credentials… and her ability to treat even the worst cases like the humans they are will be a jewel in her crown in heaven.”

Thanks, Cathy, for going beyond the call of duty and being a true shining star to everyone around you. In recognition of her awesomeness, we will be sending Cathy a koi outfit and Penne will receive a pair of koi pants for nominating her.

 Above: Cathy Brown (middle in blue), our latest shining star, shown with some of her adoring co-workers.

We’re excited to introduce our new koi Zara pants, arriving in stores this April. Made from t he same comfortable fabric as our best-selling Lindsey pants, we think you’ll love how our new Zara pants look and feel on you.

Our new Zara pants feature a flat front and flared legs for a look that’s flattering for all shapes and sizes. These stylish pants feature a unique side zipper entry and an elastic back waist that makes slipping them on and off a breeze. Plus, the pants feature pockets galore to store all your gear. And, of course, our new Zara pants include all the special detailing you’ve come to love from koi. Best of all, they will be available in a wide variety of colors.

Ask for our new koi Zara pants at your local authorized koi retailer this coming April. We highly recommend you try them on for size. We think they could easily become your favorite pair of pants!

 Above: Our new koi Zara pants shown in fuchsia (709-21).

 Above: Our new koi Zara pants shown in royal blue (709-20).

 Above: Our new koi Zara pants features a unique flat front that flatters, shown in persimmon (709-47).

Above: The new koi Zara pants feature a side zipper entry and an elastic back waist that makes slipping them on and off a breeze, shown in black (709-02).

We recently asked our customers to nominate their colleagues and co-workers who go beyond the call of duty, who are true shining stars. In the weeks ahead, we will be profiling some of the shining stars you nominated. Congratulations to Angela Duckworth, who was nominated by her colleague Susan Smith of Spartanburg, South Carolina. Here is what Susan said about Angela:

My name is Susan Smith. I am a Physical Therapist at McCarthy Teszler School, a school for “special needs” children of all ages. I would like to nominate Angela Duckworth for the “Shining Star.” She has 10 students between the ages of 3–5. All the children in her class are in wheelchairs. Her daily routine consists of changing diapers, feeding, sometimes tube feeding breakfast and lunch, treating children who need breathing machines, and positioning all the children in their adaptive equipment, such as standers, walkers and alternative seating that has been requested by the PT Department. In the time left, she is required to work with each child on their Individualized Lesson Plans, which consists of Reading, Writing, and Arithmetic and get them to their related art classes! Amazingly she and her assistants have time to show all the children the love that each child deserves. This year she started wearing scrubs. She frequently finds herself, on any given day, changing clothes 3x daily. She does this without complaining! She always has a positive and kind spirit that shows through every day! Please consider her for the “shining star.”

We agree that Angela is amazing and is truly a shining star! In recognition of her awesomeness, we will be sending Angela a koi outfit and Susan will receive a pair of koi pants for nominating her.

Congratulations to Angela Duckworth, a true shining star!

Congratulations to Amber Garibay of Laguna Niguel, California, the Grand Prize Winner of our 2010 koi “Healthier, Happier You” contest!

At the beginning of the contest, Amber wrote:

“I want to be a normal healthy individual. I want to live a long healthy life. I want to be here for my family. I have a two-year-old son who I want to keep up with and do all the fun things he wants me to do with him. It’s really not fair to me or my family to be overweight. I’ve tried time and time again to lose weight. I really believe in myself this time, I’m motivated to start a whole new life. To a new healthy Amber!!!”

At the start of the contest, Amber weighed in at 270 lb. Today, Amber is 45 lb slimmer and she looks amazing. Congratulations, Amber, you’re an inspiration to us all at koi and proof that hard work and motivation pays off!

As our Grand Prize winner, Amber will be receiving a $500 koi wardrobe, which includes 4 outfits from our new Spring ’11 collection, 4 outfits from our upcoming Summer ’11 collection, and 4 outfits from our Fall/Winter ’11 collections, for a total of 12 complete outfits (12 tops and 12 pairs of pants).

Above: Amber’s BEFORE PHOTO, taken in January 2010, starting weight 270 lb.

Above: Amber’s AFTER PHOTO, looking great on the day of the final weigh-in, at a final weight of 225 lb (a loss of 45 lb). Congratulations, Amber!

Here’s koi founder and designer Kathy Peterson’s final “Healthier, Happier You” blog entry:

“Congratulations to Amber, the winner of our “Healthier, Happier You” contest. It was truly difficult picking a winner. I want to give a special mention to Jennifer Kay-Williams who lost 40 lb and Hope Reichlein who lost the greatest percentage of her body weight and all the contestants who participated. I was impressed by the progress everyone made and I’m so proud of you all. It was a tough challenge and a big commitment.

Here’s my update. My final weight is 120 lb. I lost 12 lb and 35 inches total. But I was 10 lb shy of my goal. While I was a little sad that I didn’t meet my goal, I feel great and my clothes fit better. I will continue to work toward my goal in 2011. 

Since I didn’t meet my goal by the end of the year, as promised, I will send $100 worth of koi merchandise (2 tops and 2 pants) to the contestants who stuck it out to the very end and religiously reported their weight and measurements each and every month of the program. Take a bow, Amanda Williams, Amber Garibay, Rosa Gray, Heather Danser (Barrett), Hope Reichlein, Janine Dyke, Jennifer Kay-Williams, Sandy Diep, Susan Violette (Albert), Tara Hiura, and Alana Thune. You’re all amazing and beautiful inside and out. It was great hearing your stories and working toward our goals together.

Lastly, I’d like to congratulate Christin Erwin, winner of the “Weigh in with Kathy” contest, where way back in March, people were asked to guess my final weight. Christin guessed the closest and won $100 in koi merchandise (2 tops and 2 pants).”

—Kathy Peterson

Above: A recent photo of koi founder Kathy Peterson after losing 12 lb during koi’s “Healthier, Happier You” program.

Through the sales of limited edition tops in our Hope Breast Cancer Collection, we were able to raise $43,082 for Susan G. Komen for the Cure in 2010. With your help, in the past two years, we’ve managed to raise $76,728 for Susan G. Komen. Thanks to all our amazing retailers and customers for supporting this important cause and making this donation possible.

To learn more about Susan G. Komen for the Cure, or to make a donation, please visit their website at ww5.komen.org.

Thanks for helping to make a difference!